Most mothers don’t choose to raise children on their own, but sometimes fate has different plans.
This all-too-common story, exaggerated for some by the lack of legal working papers, language and money, weaved throughout the independent film “Entre Nos,” based on the true story of a Colombian mother who decided to search for her estranged husband in Jackson Heights with her two children in tow.
Taped over 18 days entirely in northwest Queens, the heart-wrenching film about inner strength and sacrifice premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009 and will be released in theatres in New York, Miami and Los Angeles this spring and summer. Special Queens only screenings will take place Mother’s Day weekend.
“We are having a community screening in Jackson Heights on May 7 as a way to give thanks to the community,” said Paola Mendoza, who movingly and honestly played the character of the mother Mariana and happens to be the real life daughter of the mother portrayed in the film. “This is something special for mothers, especially immigrant mothers, who come and sacrifice so much for our generation.”
To pay food and rent as she looked for her husband, Mariana sold empanadas (meat patties), collected cans and worked as a day laborer. However, she didn’t always make enough money to eat or pay rent, so she and the children would split a bag of potato chips and sleep on park benches or on LIRR pedestrian staircases.
At moments like this throughout the film as Mariana caressed the children’s hair and thought about the long night ahead, waves of desperation, sadness, anger and guilt flashed across her face – a clear indication of Mendoza’s great acting abilities.
“My mom didn’t read the screenplay, didn’t watch the film – though she and my brother came to the first week of taping – and then I asked her if she wanted to watch it at Tribeca with everyone else and she said ‘yes,’” Mendoza said. “We get to Tribeca. It’s super sold out. They are sitting behind me. The movie starts and within two minutes I hear someone crying. I thought, ‘Oh no! They are already crying and nothing has happened yet!’”
Mendoza explained that to play her and her brother, they auditioned 500 children from the community, none with previous acting experience, for the roles of Gabriel, played by Sebastian Villada Lopez, 10, and Andrea, played by Laura Montana Cortez, 6.
“We worked with restaurants, companies, organizations all in Jackson Heights to do the film and to find the children,” Mendoza said. “We even went to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to speak to all the Colombian boys, 12 years of age.”
According to Mendoza, harder than making a movie about personal and difficult subjects on abandonment, homeless, even abortion, was actually making an independent film because people would try to discourage her.
“Every day people tell you that it’s not going to happen and every day you wake up thinking, ‘another impossible day,’” she said about the three years she spent in production. “But at the end of the day, we pulled through.”
At Tribeca, “Entre Nos” received an Honorable Mention and then went on to win over 10 international awards at film festivals around the world.
To purchase tickets for $10 to the special screenings in Queens call (212) 684-2333 ext. 320. Cast will be present at all screenings. This film is not yet rated but is suitable for audiences over 13.
Special Mother’s Day Screenings
Natives Theatre and Restaurant
82-22 Northern Boulevard
Jackson Heights 11372
Friday, May 7 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 8 at 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 8 at 4 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Tickets $10. Call (212) 684-2333 ext. 320
Runtime: 81 minutes
